Desperate for revenues while making deep cuts to try to recover from a crushing economic crisis, the Greek government, wants to collect taxes from players of barrel pianos, known as laternas, who walk the streets with their instruments and now have to give receipts for donations.
Laternas have been a main music reproducing instruments in Greece for almost a century as they virtually carried on their backs most of the Greek musical tradition. They used to circulate in the streets, employing dedicated craftsmen and talented musicians.
As politischios.gr reports, a player, Michalis Skrivanos, who also goes under the nickname Diopas, was forced to put a cash register on his laterna, instead of being given a grant for keeping alive such a long tradition.
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